While the title is the dream of gerontius the dream of the old man, it could also be the dream of someone much younger. For it is safe, consumed, yet quickened by the glance of god. The dream of gerontius simple english wikipedia, the free. Edward elgar 18571934, john henry newman 18011890, harry arbuthnot acworth 18491933, henry wadsworth longfellow 18071882, alice caroline stuart wortley 18621936, arthur william edgar oshaughnessy 18441881, caractacus fl. Elgars dream of gerontius is, in effect, a sung tone poem and resides at the core of english choral music.
Emi recorded gerontius under boult very near the end of the conductors active career. In sir edward elgar another major work, the oratorio the dream of gerontius, which many consider his masterpiece. Heres your detailed guide to the awesomeness of elgars the dream of gerontius. But at its first performance in birmingham, 105 years ago, the music was thought. The dream of gerontius is widely regarded as elgar s finest choral work,and some consider it his masterpiece. We see an embittered man whose music has been conscripted as a calltoarms for a war that has destroyed many of his closest friends.
Edward elgar was an english composer who received international recognition for his classical compositions. He received his training from his father, who was an organist, music seller, and amateur violinist. Gerontius book vancouver public library bibliocommons. Mezzosoprano janet baker, who starred in barbirollis 1964 recording, was still professionally active in 1986, and so were fellow veterans baritone john shirleyquirk and. The 20th centurys most beautiful oratorio was written right at the beginning technically, just a little before it. Edward elgar was born in worcester in 1857 and died in 1934. The content platform for edward elgar publishings journals, reference works and books, including scholarly monographs, research handbooks, companions and more. And because he was the sort of person who enjoyed a challenge, he decided to write a piece about life, death and what comes afterwards. Everyone who loves elgar acclaims the dream of gerontius as a masterpiece. The work is coupled on this album with elgar s symphony no.
Dante, in his years of wordintoxicated genius, wrote about the conversations he had with dozens of real people, all of them different in their virtues. Until further notice we will only be able to ship orders on mondays and thursdays. Elgars rondo, a 1993 stage play by david pownall depicts the dead jaeger offering ghostly advice on elgars musical development. Follow the text of edward elgars the dream of gerontius, to text from the poem by cardinal john henry newman. I know it now, not by the token of this faltering breath. Firmly i believe and truly, and praise to the holiest in the height.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I began listening to edward elgars dream of gerontius through the fine adrian boult recording done with nicolai gedda and for a while was unsure whether i liked the work, although i kept listening to it, which is always a good sign. Among his bestknown compositions are orchestral works including the enigma variations, the pomp and circumstance marches. And at the end of the second disc, emi tacks on rattle and the berliner philharmoniker s 2002 recording of elgar s pomp and circumstance march. Elgar completed his masterpiece, the dream of gerontius, in 1900 and, despite some resistance from the anglican church around the catholic dogma of some parts of cardinal newmans text, elgars extraordinary work eventually came to be regarded as the greatest oratorio. He allows a very wide dynamic range and is prepared to employ subtle rubato throughout, as elgar would surely expect. His most famous orchestral works include the enigma variations, the pomp and circumstances marches including land of hope and glory, concertos for violin, and choral works such as the dream of gerontius.
List of books and articles about edward elgar online. Gerontius proclaims elgar as an outsider in the musical establishment. There are many wonderful recordings of the dream of gerontius available today, but the following two are generally regarded to be among the most representative of elgars vision. A large folio sized full orchestral hardback score bound in red, series i vol 6 with some wear to the top of the spine. Elgar said, my first music was learnt in the cathedral. For emi, the label that had already made a series of ever more opulent and magnificent recordings of elgars oratorio the dream of gerontius, the temptation to try again in 1986 must have been irresistible. My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us, the world is full of it and you simply take as much as you require.
The dream of gerontiussea pictures choir orchestral. Before and after the dream of gerontius, emi has included rattle and the city of birmingham symphonys 1993 recordings of elgar s enigma variations and incidental music from grania and diarmid. It is an oratorio, although elgar did not like it being called an oratorio, but this is how it is usually described. The dream of gerontius has not been released on sacd before. The usual library stickers and markings but an entirely unused and clean copy within. In the completely new elgar the music maker she harvests five decades of thoughts about his music, scrutinizing the biographical details. Sir edward elgar, huddersfield choral society, royal liverpool philharmonic orchestra, sir malcolm sargent the dream of gerontius, op. The poem opens with the old mans realization that his time has come. Elgar himself said that he saw gerontius as a man like us, a sinner, a repentant one of course, but still no end of a worldly man in his life. After the initial failure of the dream of gerontius in 1900, elgar was understandably depressed, but. Diana mcveagh elgar the music maker boydell press, 20070621. Oct 01, 2007 the dream of gerontius, first published in 1865, is cardinal newmans epic poem describing the descent of gerontius, an everyman character, into death and purgatory. One hundred years ago last tuesday, elgars the dream of gerontius was first performed in birmingham town hall as part of the citys triennial. Cardinal newmans words are beyond atrocious as poetry, and i find their sadomasochistic doctrinal underpinning sickening o happy, suffering soul.
Elgar completed his masterpiece, the dream of gerontius, in 1900 and, despite some resistance from the anglican church around the catholic dogma of some parts of cardinal newmans text, elgars extraordinary work eventually came to be regarded as the greatest. The organ grinders songs from the starlight express words by blackwood, music by elgar, arranged for piano by harrison. Sir edward william elgar, 1st baronet, om, gcvo was an english composer, many of whose. The dream of gerontius simple english wikipedia, the. Elgar s the dream of gerontius is a cornerstone of the great english choral romantic period repertoire it was completed in 1900. It is a uniquely english work for all its heavily roman catholic origins, sources, imagery and purpose. In november, 1928, sir edgar elgar books a round trip passage to brazil and while travelling, he decides to keep a journal. Sir edward william elgar, 1st baronet, om, gcvo lr. On the other hand, sir thomas beecham detested both elgar and his music and devoted his time to the music of frederick. Elgar, beyond pomp and circumstance the new york times.
Elgars life and music have inspired works of literature including the novel gerontius and several plays. The work has become as popular with british choral societies as messiah and elijah. The other short elgar works are very well done, but it is gerontius which will sell this set, or not. During the decade in which delius composed his agnostic mass of life to nietzsches text, elgar turned to cardinal newman for his searing oratorio the dream of gerontius and offered. Rattles conception is secure and musical, of course. Mar 01, 1985 the original vocal score of gerontius was actually printed before elgar s had even finalised or completed his final orchestration and as edward elgar s the dream of gerontius is a splendid oratorio for mezzosoprano, tenor and bass with chorus and orchestra. Edward elgar elgar, edward, 18571934 the online books page. It is usually thought of as the best choral work elgar ever wrote. Sir edward elgar the dream of gerontius album art cardinal. Interestingly, its premiere came in the last months of the 19th century, a time, much like our own, when fluctuating styles and experimentation existed alongside a lingering and powerful. Not dated the dream of gerontius elgar please be advised that his is a 6 page cream pamphlet it doesnt state op 38 and it is the words only gerontius is the tenor,the priest is the bass and assistants are the chorus there is only minor shelf wear a very good copy immediate despatch from uk 6 days a week. Gerontius, his first novel, won the whitbread award, while his most recent, loving monsters 2001, was praised by the sunday he is a highly acclaimed author of nonfiction books, including seventenths, three miles down and playing with water, as well as americas boy, a study of ferdinand marcos and the philippines.
Not dated the dream of gerontius elgar please be advised that his is a 6 page cream pamphlet it doesnt state op 38 and it is the words only gerontius is the tenor,the priest is the bass and assistants are the chorus there is only minor shelf wear a very good copy immediate despatch from uk 6. Today, elgars the dream of gerontius is a national monument. The table below shows all known compositions by edward elgar compositions. I began listening to edward elgar s dream of gerontius through the fine adrian boult recording done with nicolai gedda and for a while was unsure whether i liked the work, although i kept listening to it, which is always a good sign. Steuart wilson gerontius, margaret balfour angel, herbert heyner the priestthe angel of the agony, tudor davies gerontius, horace stevens the angel of the agony, yehudi menuhin violin, margaret balfour contralto, beatrice harrison cello, sir. He also composed choral works, including the dream of gerontius, chamber music and songs. He was the son of william henry elgar who was the owner of a music shop and pianotuning business. So it would have been fitting if the three arguably greatest soloists of their generation, mezzosoprano janet baker, tenor peter pears and bass. It relates the journey of a pious mans soul from his deathbed to his judgment before god and settling into purgatory. He had known elgar they first met around 1903 and was very highly thought of by the composer, who is on record as believing that the future of his music was safe in boults hands. He followed the variations with a choral work, the dream of gerontius.
The dream of gerontius the complete text classic fm. Follow the text of edward elgar s the dream of gerontius, to text from the poem by cardinal john henry newman. From the elgar complete edition this is an ex wakefield libraries copy. Other articles where the dream of gerontius is discussed. Jesu, maria i am near to death, and thou art calling me. With a worldclass editor team, 500 content items and authorship from almost 200 of the worlds foremost scholars, the encyclopedia is the. Edgar wood of bromley recalls it vividly and recounts that after. In 1900 elgar was asked to write a piece for the birmingham triennial music festival. Based on a poem by john henry cardinal newman, it dispensed with the traditional admixture of recitatives, arias, and choruses, using instead a continuous musical texture as in the musical dramas of richard.
Available in print as a 4 volume set and as an integrated online resource. It is a remarkable fact that elgar was very largely selftaught as a composer evidence of the strong. Based on a poem by john henry cardinal newman, it dispensed with the traditional admixture of recitatives, arias, and choruses, using instead a continuous musical texture as in the musical dramas of richard wagner. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The dream of gerontius by elgar, edward and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The dream of gerontius is a large musical work for choir, three solo singers and orchestra composed by edward elgar. Dream of gerontius, enigma variations by simon rattle. The dream of gerontius, first published in 1865, is cardinal newmans epic poem describing the descent of gerontius, an everyman character, into death and purgatory. An essential guide to his life and works classic fm lifelines series pavilion books, 199705. The dream of gerontius, an album by edward elgar, halle, sir mark elder on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Edward elgar elgar, edward, 18571934 the online books. Among his bestknown compositions are orchestral works including the enigma variations, the pomp and circumstance marches, concertos for violin and cello. The dream of gerontius paperback august 15, 2011 by edward elgar author, john henry newman author visit amazons john henry newman page. Winner of the asil 2018 certificate of merit for high technical craftsmanship and utility to practicing lawyers and scholars.
Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Please note that even expedited orders will be delayed. Steuart wilson gerontius, margaret balfour angel, herbert heyner the priestthe angel of the agony, tudor davies gerontius, horace stevens the angel of the agony, yehudi menuhin violin, margaret balfour contralto, beatrice harrison cello, sir edward elgar piano. Edward elgar quotes author of the dream of gerontius, op. Mar 28, 2011 paul groves sings the part of gerontius more convincingly than any other tenor today, his control and range of colour and dynamic fitting elgar s vocal lines like a glove, while christine rices. A guide to why elgars the dream of gerontius is the most. The piece is widely regarded as elgars finest choral work, and some consider it his masterpiece. Edward elgar elgar, edward, 18571934 a wikipedia article about this author is available elgar, edward, 18571934.